Stock quotation projecting machine



Oct. 22, 1935. .1. w, DECKER 19,727

STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH Original Filed Jan. -25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTURRE? ill-all J. w. DECKER Re., 19,727

Original Filed Jan. 25. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1935.

STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH ATTORNEY INVENTQR J. w. DECKER Re. 19,727

STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH Oct. 22, 1935.

Original Filed Jan. 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jame Wflaan; BY Z Z ATTORNEY Reissued Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOCK QUOTATION PROJECTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING TAPE THERETHROUGH James W. Decker, New York, N. Y.

22 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates in general to projecting machines and more especially to machines for projecting news items such as stock quotations on ticker tape and the like and the method for feeding tape through such projecting machines.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved construction which makes possible the use of a single mirror for projecting the images on a vertical screen above the projecting machine, in which construction the ticker tape is free to be inspected as it leaves the ticker machine and before it passes to the projecting machine.

Among the objects of the present invention it is also aimed to provide an improved mechanism for dissipating the vibrations transmitted to the tape by the ticker so that the tape may pass the projecting lens in a comparatively uniform even feed.

The present invention also aims to provide an improved construction for controlling the operating of the motor for driving the tape drawing or pulling means contemplating an electric make and break which is spaced at considerable distance from the tape, which has no open spark,

and which will produce a dwell both before making contact and before breaking contact in order to protect the tape from the jar incident to the sudden stopping and starting of the movement of the tape.

The present invention also aims to provide an improved mechanism for controlling the rewind action of the tape after it is discharged from the projecting mechanism whereby the rewind reel will be eifectively anchored against actuation as soon as the ticker has stopped sufficiently long to prevent the rewind reel to take up the slack in the tape adjacent to the rewind reel.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away of a device equipped according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental detail of a portion of the tape controlling means;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the wir ing for the motor and controlling switch;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the rewind mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a plan of the rewind mechanism shown in Fig. '7.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 5

there is provided a frame I having a lower platform 2 and an upper platform 3. n the platform 3 there is supported the lamp housing 4 containing the lamp 5 and lens 6 through which the rays from the lamp 5 pass to the inclined mir- 10 ror l and by which mirror I the light rays are deflected upward through a light aperture across which the tape T passes.

The tape T is preferably composed of a transparent material or a translucent material so that light may readily pass through such tape and project images of the characters on the tape to the projecting lens formed in the housing 8 from which the images are projected onto the mirror 9 in the frame Hi and deflected by such mirror 9 onto the vertical screen II. The frame l0, supporting the mirror 9 and screen ll, may be supported above the projecting mechanism in any usual way. In the present instance, the brackets l2 are provided which are secured to the wall I3 on which the frame In rests.

On the platform 3 adjacent to the lamp housing 4, there is also provided a supporting member II for supporting the ticker generally denoted by the reference character 15, which is provided with the feeding means consisting of the feed rollers i6 and H which cooperate with the printing wheel l8 in the usual way. Thetape T passes from the supply reel l9, see Fig. 1, to the feeding means It, IL'and then past the printing means It. The reel I9 is supported on the shaft 20 extending from the bracket 2| which is connected to the supporting frame It. From the printing mechanism I8, the tape passes over the finger 22 to the angle plate 23 which has guiding projec- 4o tions 24, 25, extending upwardly, between which the tape passes to the curved portion 26 and then between the downwardly extending guiding projections 21, 28 to and along the lower face of the frame 29 to the idler 30, and over the idler 3G down to the feed roller 5| beneath the platform 3 to the rewind reel 32.

In order to dissipate the vibrations transmitted to the tape T by the ticker I 5 due to the intermittent feeding action of the feed means l6, I1, and printing mechanism l8, there is provided a friction creating device, known in the projecting machine trade as an ironing out device which consists of the lever 33 extending through the yoke 34 and adiustably connected thereto by the screw 85. This yoke 84 is pivotally connected to the bracket 88 which is secured to the lower face of the plate 81 extending from the upper end of the lamp housing 4 adjacent to the ticker l5.

One end of the lever 38 is preferably provided with a tape engaging device 88, and the other end extends through a weight 89 which is connected to the lever 88 preferably by means of a screw 40. By means of the screws 85 and 48, both the length of the arms of the lever 88 may be adjusted and the position of the weight 89 adjusted in order to obtain the degree of pressure desired on the tape T. The tape engaging device 88, as shown in Fig. 8, preferably engages the tape T to press it against the lower face of the frame 29 before the tape passes to the light aperture 4| in the frame 29.

The frame 29, as shown in Fig. 8, is provided with the light aperture 4|. the tape passing across such light aperture 4| to permit the light rays deflected by the mirror 1 to pass through the tape to the projecting lens in the housing 8. The frame 29, as shown in Fig. 8 is preferably hinged at 42 to the top of the angle box and is adapted to fold down over the path of movement of the tape T to be engaged by the projection 48 formed at the upper end of the arm 44 secured to the front face of the angle box, see Figs. 1 and 2.

On the platform 2 there is supported the motor 45 which is operatively connected to actuate the drawing roller 8| and the rewind reel 82. The tape pulling roller 8| and rewind reel 82 are adapted to be stopped and started according to the operation of the ticker I5. In order so to control the operation of the tape pulling roller 8|.

and rewind reel 82, the motor 45 is operatively connected to a mercury switch 46 which in turn is operatively connected by means of the connecting link 41 with the lever 48 which is pivotally connected at 49 to the side of the angle box adjacent to the ticker 15. The lever 48 is preferably provided with a tape engaging sheave 58 which rests on the upper surface of the tape T to deflect the tape T to form a loop or bend before the tape T engages the bent plate 28. The

mercury switch 46 is supported on a plate grzhiciilzi is pivotally mounted on the projections The connecting link 41 has an extended slot 58 at its lower end through which extends the pin 54 on the plate 5| and aslot 98 to receive the pin '99 of the lever 48. The pin 54 is so positioned relative to the pivotal connection of the plate 5| with the projections 52, 52, that the center of gravity of the plate 5| with its appurtenant parts is disposed between the projections '52 and the pin 54 so that the plate 5| will, due, to gravity, to tend to exercise a downward pull on the connecting link 41 when the end of the plate containing the pin 54 is raised by the connecting link 41. The center of gravity of the plate 5| relative to the projections 52, 52, is also such that when the link 41 does not exercise an upward pull on the plate 5|, the end of the plate containing the pin 54 will descend to its lowest point determined by the face 55 of the member 58.

The mercury in the tube 51 of the mercury switch 48 relative to its contacts is so disposed that the contact will be broken when the end 58 of the tube 51 is raised and that contact will be made when the end 58 is lowered. The mercury switch 45 is connected to the resistance 59 by means of the conductor 58, which resistance 59 by means of the conductor 5| is connected to the main lead 62 leading to the outlet plug 83, The

other end of the switch 48 is connected by the conductor 84 to the conductor 85 of the motor 45. The other pole of the motor 45 is connected by the conductor 58 to the conductor 81 by means of which it is connected to the other main lea 5 88 of the outlet plug 88. I

The motor 45 is provided with a shaft 89 on which is mounted thesheave which is connected by means of the belt 1| to the sheave 12 on the shaft 18, which is provided with a worm 1o 14 in mesh with the worm wheel 15, which worm wheel ismounted on the shaft 18, which shaft 18 has mounted thereon the sheaves 11 and 18. The sheave 11 is connected by means of the belt 19 to the sheave 88 on the shaft 8| journaled in 15 the upper end of the bracket 82. On the shaft BI is mounted the tape pulling roller 8|. In order to frictionally engage the tape T with the tape pulling roller 8|, the idler 88 is journaled in the upper end of the arm 84 which is pivotally connected at 85 to the bracket 82, which arm 84 has an extension 85 to receive an adjustable weight 81 whereby the pressure on the tape T or frictional engagement between the idler 88 and the tape pulling roller 8| can be properly adjusted.

The sheave 18 is connected by the spring belt 88 with the sheave 89 on the shaft 98, on which shaft 98 is mounted the reel 82.

From the foregoing, it will appear that when the ticker I5 is operating to form suflicient slack to permit the sheave 58 to depress the tape T low enough to permit the connecting link 41 in turn to permit the end 58 ofthe mercury switch .48 to be depressed, contact .will be made to permit the motor 45 to be actuated in turn to actuate the tape pulling roller 8| and reel 82. It will also appear that as soon as the ticker l5 pauses sufllciently long to permit the tape pulling roller 8| to cooperate with the ticker l5 to dissipate the slack in the tape T and thereby raise the lever 48, in turn to raise the connecting link 41, the end 58 of the switch 48 will be raised to break contact and thereby cause the motor to be stopped.

In a period of flve minutes the ticker l5 may 45 be started and stopped a number of times, and as a result thereof the motor stopped and started a number of times. In order to protect the motor 45 from being overheated by the constant stopping and starting of the same, the resistance 60 59 will function to diminish the amperage suillcient to prevent such overheating.

It will also appear from the foregoing that due to the slot 58 at the lower end of the connecting link 41, the motor 45 can by no possible chance be stopped simultaneously with the stopping of the ticker.|5, but, on the other hand. alwaysa little after the ticker l5 has stopped and thus protect the tape from the jar to which it would be subjected if it were suddenly stopped, espeoially if the ticker l5 and motor 45 were stopped at the very same instant.

This elongated slot 58 isalsc of value when starting the motor 45. Here, before the full slack will have been formed in the tape T, the link 41 will have permitted the end 58 of the switch 48 to be lowered to make contact and start the motor 45. Since the motor 45 will not acquire its full momentum until after it has made a number of revolutions, during the period that further slack is being formed in the tape T, that is while the connecting link 41 drops its fullest extent afforded by the length of the slot 58, suflicient time will have elapsed to permit the motor to acquire its full operating momentum. In this way, the slack in the tape T can never mount up, it being assumed, of course, that the speed of the motor 45 will be timed to synchronize substantially with the rate of feed provided by the feeding means l6, H.

The spring belt 88 is provided in order to compensate for the gradually increasing drawing action transmitted to the tape T by the gradually increasing diameter of the rewind reel. It will be noted that the uniform feeding roller 3|, constituting the tape drawing roller, is interposed between the projecting mechanism and the rewind reel 32 so that the uneven drawing action, or gradually increasing drawing action, of the rewind reel 32, will not be transmitted to the tape T.

In some instances, it may be desirable to dispense with the electric make and break and to diminish the frictional engagement between the idler 83 and the roller 3| sufficient to permit slippage when the ticker I is stopped, without stopping the motor 45. In such case, however, it is desirable also to diminish the drawing tension produced by the rewind reel 32. This is very effectively done by providing a brake to anchor the rewind reel 32 against rotation, at least sufficient to permit the spring belt 88 to slip relative to the sheave 89. To this end, the reel 32 is provided with a braking drum 9! to be engaged by a brake shoe 92, which is pivotally mounted on the arm 93 extending from the bracket 94 of the housing 95 of the worm wheel 15. The brake shoe 92 is provided with an arm 95 having a finger 91 to engage the tape T, as indicated in Fig. 7. In this instance, when the ticker l5 stops and the rewind reel 32 continues to wind up the tape T, it will take up the slack in the tape T between the tape pulling roller 31 and the rewind reel 32 to raise the finger 91 and thereby cause the brake shoe 92 to be wedged against the braking hub 9|.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction and in the steps of the method without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a

l. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type impressions on said ticker tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape after a printing impression, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right angularly bent guide for twisting the tape through a right angular path of movement for inverting the tape and guiding the tape so inverted over said light aperture, a projecting lens above said light aperture for receiving images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said lens for receiving images from said lens, and a screen above said lens for receiving images from said deflector.

2. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing configurations on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for discharging said tape in one direction, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, an angular guide for twisting the tape at an angle to the direction of discharge from said ticker and inverting the tape to pass while inverted over said light aperture, deflecting means above said light aperture, a lens above said light aperture for receiving images from said tape and projecting them to said deflecting means, and a screen, said deflecting means deflecting the images received to said screen.

3. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing configurations on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a lamp housing to one side of said ticker and having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a lamp in said housing to the rear of said light aperture, a lower deflector in said lamp housing for receiving the light rays from said lamp and deflecting them upwardly through said light aperture, guides for guiding the tape from said ticker over said light aperture, a screen above and forwardly of said light aperture, an upper deflector above said light aperture and to the rear of said screen, and projecting means for receiving images from the tape located across said light aperture and projecting them onto said upper deflector to deflect them forwardly onto said screen.

4. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a guide disposed between said ticker and said light aperture conformed to invert the tape and pass it over said light aperture, the tape passing in part under said guide when being inverted, and a finger for pressing the part of the tape passing under the guide upward against said guide to dissipate the vibrations transmitted thereto by said ticker.

5. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a guide disposed between said ticker and said light aperture conformed to invert the tape and pass it over said light aperture, part of the tape passing under the guide when so inverted, a finger pivotally connected to said projecting mechanism, and a weight connected to one end of said finger to cause the other end of said finger to press the part of the tape passing under the guide upward against said guide to dissipate the vibrations transmitted to the tape by said ticker.

5. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing positive type characters on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a guide disposed between said ticker and said light aperture conformed to invert the tape and pass it over said light aperture, a bracket pivotally connected to said projecting mechanism, a finger adjustably connected to said bracket, and a weight adjustably connected to one end of said finger and causing the other end of said finger to press the tape into engagement with said guide to dissipate the jump transmitted thereto by said ticker.

7. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism, a drawing means cooperating with said feeding mechanism to draw the tape through said projecting mechanism, an electric motor for driving said drawing means, a pivotally mounted mercury switch for controlling said electric motor, a lever having its free end resting on said tape, and a link connecting said lever with said mercury switch, said lever being actuated by said tape when said feeding mechanism comes to rest in turn throughsaid link to actuate said mercury switch to shut off the current to said motor.

8. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape after printing, a projecting mechanism, a drawing mechanism cooperating with the feeding mechanism to pass the tape through said projecting mechanism, a lever having its free end adapted to rest on said tape and be raised when said tape becomes taut, an electric motor, a pivotally mounted mercury switch for controlling said motor, and a link connected to said lever and having a pin and slot connection with said mercury switch, said lever when actuated into raised position in turn actuating said mercury switch to shut off the current to said motor and being free to descend when said feeding mechanism operates to form slack in said tape in turn to actuate said mercury switch to make contact and thereby cause the motor to operate.

9. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape after printing, a projecting mechanism, a drawing mechanism cooperating with the feeding mechanism to pass the tape through said projecting mechanism, a lever having its free end adapted to rest on said tape and be raised when said tape becomes taut, an electric motor, a pivotally mounted mercury switch for controlling said motor, and a link having a pin and slot connection with said lever and having a pin and slot connection with said mercury switch, said lever when actuated into raised position in turn actuating said mercury switch to shut off the current to said motor and being free to descend when said feeding mechanism operates to form slack in said tape in turn to actuate said mercury switch to make contact and thereby cause the motor to operate.

10. The combination with a ticker tape, of a projecting mechanism, a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for feeding said tape to said projecting mechanism, a drawing roller,

a rewind reel, a motor, a spring belt connecting said drawing roller with said motor, a spring belt connecting said rewind reel with said mofor, a brake drum on said rewind reel, and a pivotally mounted lever having a brake shoe at one end to cooperate with said brake drum and a finger at the other end to cooperate with said tape, said drawing roller receiving the tape from said projecting mechanism, said rewind reel receiving the tape from said drawing roller, said rewind reel cooperating with said feeding mechanism to take up the slack in said tape when said feeding mechanism comes to rest thereby actuating said finger in turn to wedge said brake shoe in engagement with said brake drum to arrest said rewind reel.

11. The combination with a ticker tape having news items printed thereon facing upwardly, of a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right angular guide for inverting the tape, tape drawing means for drawin: said tape across said light aperture while so inverted, a projecting lens disposed above said tape to receive images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said projecting lens to receive the images from said lens, and a screen for receiving the images from said deflector. 5

1 inverting and guiding the tape to cross said light 10 aperture while so inverted, a projecting lens disposed above said tape to receive images of the configurations on said tape, a deflector above said projecting lens to receive the images from said lens, and a screen for receiving the images from 5 said deflector.

13. The combination with a ticker tape having positive type impressions formed thereon facing upwardly, of a projecting mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a right an- 20 gularly bent guide for inverting the tape and guiding the tape inverted toward said light aperture, a projecting lens above said light aperture for receiving images of the downwardly facing configurations on said tape, a deflector above 25 said lens for receiving images from said lens, and a screen above said lens for receiving images from said deflector.

14. The combination with a ticker tape having configurations formed thereon, of a project- 30 ing mechanism having a horizontally disposed light aperture, an angular guide for inverting the tape at anangle to its original path of movement to cross said light aperture while inverted, deflecting means above said light aperture, a lens 35 above said light aperture for receiving images from said tape and projecting them to said deflecting means, and a screen, said deflecting means deflecting the images received to said screen. 40

15. The combination with a ticker tape having configurations formed thereon facing upwardly, of a lamp housing having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a lamp in said housing to one side of said light aperture, a deflector in said lamp 5 housing for receiving the light rays from said lamp and deflecting them upwardly through said light aperture, an inverting guide for inverting and guiding the tape to cross said light aperture while so inverted, a screen, and projecting means 50 above said tape for receiving images from the tape while so inverted on said light aperture and projecting them onto said screen.

16. In a projection system wherein a charaster-bearing tape passes fiatwise from ticker s5 mechanism and with one surface facing upwardly, the method which comprises supporting said tape for horizontal movement through a projection field with said one surface facing downwardly, and controlling movement of said so tape through said projection field in response to change in configuration of a tape loop disposed at the entrance to said projection field.

17. In a projection system wherein a character-bearing tape passes flatwise from ticker mechanism and with one surface facing upwardly, the method which comprises supporting said tape for horizontal movement through a projection field with said one surface facing downwardly, and controlling movement of said tape through said projection field in response to deflections in the tape disposed at the entrance to said projection field.

18. The combination with a projection field, of a ticker tape having one surface facing upwardly when it is discharged from a ticker, an axial bend in the ticker tape at the entrance to said projection field, said one surface of said tape facing downwardly beyond said bend and when the tape passes through said projection field, a tape puller for pulling said tape horizontally through said projection field, and a control for said tape puller responsive to deflections in the tape before passing to said projection field.

19. The combination with a ticker tape, of a projection field, a ticker having a ticker mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for feeding said tape to said projection field, a tape puller for pulling the tape through said projection field, a take-up reel, a brake drum associated with said take-up reel, a pivotally mounted lever having a brake shoe at one end to cooperate with said brake drum, and a finger at the other end to cooperate with said tape, said take-up reel cooperating with said tape puller to take up the slack in said tape when said feeding mechanism comes to rest thereby actuating said finger in turn to wedge said brake shoe into engagement with said brake drum to arrest said take-up reel.

20. A stock quotation projection machine of the type characterized by having as elements a ticker for printing and discharging tape, a light aperture, a tape puller for drawing the tape across said light aperture, a rewind reel for receiving the tape from said tape puller, and means for yieidingly driving said reel concurrently with said tape puller. said machine being further characterized by having a brake drum on said rewind reel, and a pivotally mounted lever having a brake shoe at one end to engage said brake drum and a finger at its other end to engage the tape, the tension in the tape co-operatlng with said finger to press said brake shoe into engagement with said brake drum when the tension in said tape increases,..whereby when the ticker is arrested, the rewind reel will continue to wind up the tape until the slack formed in the tape between the tape puller and the rewind reel has been sufficiently taken up to move the finger and therewith force the brake shoe into engagement with the brake drum, whereupon the reel will be arrested against the action of the yielding driving means, said elements cooperat- 5 ing to exercise a uniform drawing action on the tape across the light aperture.

21. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing configurations on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a lamp housing to one side of said ticker and having a horizontally disposed light aperture, a lamp in said housing to the rear of said light aperture, a lower deflector in said lamp housing for receiving the light rays from said lamp and deflecting them upwardly through said light aperture, guides for guiding the tape from said ticker over said light aperture, a translucent screen above and forwardly of said light aperture, an upper deflector above said light aperture and to the rear of said screen, and means including an objective lens unit for receiving images from the tape located across said light aperture and projecting them onto said upper deflector to defiect them forwardly onto the rear face of said screen.

22. The combination with a ticker tape, of a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing on said tape and having a feeding mechanism for imparting a feeding impulse to said tape, a projecting mechanism, a tape drawing roller, a rewind reel, 9. motor, a belt connecting said drawing roller with said motor, and a resilient belt connecting said rewind reel with said motor, said drawing roller cooperating with said feeding mechanism to pass the tape through said projecting mechanism, said rewind reel receiving the tape from said drawing roller, said rewind reel being free to slip relative to said drawing roller and to said motor to compensate for the increasing diameter of said rewind reel as the tape is being wound thereon.

JAMES W. DECKER. 

